A significant challenge facing Africa's infrastructure development is the failure of nearly 80 percent of projects during the planning stages, preventing them from reaching financial closure despite substantial investment commitments.

• Nearly 80 percent of infrastructure projects fail during the planning or feasibility stage.
• Experts George Asamani and Lavagnon Ika highlight this 'execution gap' as the continent's biggest infrastructure hurdle.
• South Africa exemplifies the issue, having secured over $91 billion in pledges but only seeing under 42 percent enter its economy.